Making the clean choice

Print Action, Oct 2003 by Avery, Jodi

In a 12-foot by 20-foot room in the back of their home in rural Ontario, Sandra and Don Rennick run a truly earth-friendly print shop, as it has virtually no impact on the environment.

Every piece of waste paper is recycled - through many creative avenues. They use no solvents or cleaning solutions of any kind. The ink on their press is water-based and contains up to 95 per cent organic material. And their press produces no ozone emissions, minimal CO[Symbol Not Transcribed] emissions and consumes relatively little energy.

Clean Choice Printers has continually expanded since its inception in 1997. Its most recent growth came with the late September installation of a new press - a Riso V8000 digital duplicator press.

When the Rennicks' children had all moved out of their family home in Ottawa, the couple decided it was time to move to the country - somewhere they had always wanted to live - and start their own home-based business. In a cozy house in MacDonald's Corner (near Perth, Ontario) the Rennicks began to brainstorm ideas for their venture.

"We wanted a lifestyle change," says Sandra Rennick. "When we thought about what kind of business to start, it made sense to think about printing because Don had experience in that field, plus I had admin and record-keeping experience. When we thought of printing we knew it used chemicals and solvents and blanket washes. But we didn't want that in our home."

The couple researched alternative presses and means of printing. They attended the Graphics Canada trade show in 1997 and discovered the Riso line of digital duplicator presses. A Riso 3750 was soon installed in their backroom shop. "It had limitations. It was one colour and we knew it wouldn't do everything people would want. But we developed our focus as we went along. And at the time we knew it was something that was clean and it printed."

Clean Choice Printers began servicing local companies, groups and people who were looking for a less ecologically damaging alternative. "We started marketing to people who were interested in having as little impact on the environment as possible. Groups such as an organic baker in our area."

With a growing customer base, Clean Choice decided to upgrade its print capabilities. The 3750 was traded in for a 3770 - increasing the dpi from 400 to 600.

Along with an environmentally friendly machine and a stock of environmentally friendly paper, the Rennicks also found ways to recycle all their waste products. The plastic from their ink cartridges is recycled, and they seek out people who can reuse their misfed and wasted paper. From daycare centres looking for craft paper, to a local paper mache artist, the Rennicks creatively keep their paper out of landfills.

This truly proactive approach to clean printing has attracted many earth conscious businesses and organizations. Their client list includes the Sierra Club (Eastern Canada chapter), Mines Action Canada, Association of American Academy of Environmental Medicine, Canadian Environmental Network, Homestead Organics and Rainbow Foods.

As word spread through these environmental circles, the Rennicks found they had to turn down some jobs because of the limitations of their press. "If customers want a photograph included, it doesn't print very high quality. It does spot colours, needing to run it through twice for two colours. But that doesn't allow for a very fine or intricate design. Also two passes makes registration a problem," says Rennick.

Clean Choice decided its booming business would support the investment in a new machine. Through the Business Development Bank - a loan agency run by the federal government that supports Canadian entrepreneurs - the Rennicks purchased the newest Riso machine, the V8000.

The V8000 prints two colours, provides better registration with a gripper bar, has better ink coverage and allows for digital files to be RIPped directly to the machine, eliminating the second generation from the 3770. "We can now print photographs and every page has a crisper look to it. But the key to the new quality is the ability to send files to the Riso instead of printing them out and putting them on the glass. It gives better quality and uses even less paper."

Rennick is excited about the possibility of recalling those clients she once had to turn away. "We have had to say no to jobs because they don't turn out well and we don't want to give someone product that isn't up to their expectations. That's not good for them or good for our reputation. But now we can say yes to these jobs with a lot more confidence."

Clean Choice is also excited about its recent contact with Environment Canada. In June of this year, the couple attended the agency's trade show, which gathered various businesses that provide environmentally friendly products and services. After making many new contacts, the Rennicks were put at the top of the list of environmentally responsible printers in Environment Canada's new directory.

"Environment Canada knows about us and they have formulated a new policy where they want to make all of Environment Canada and the government aware of all the people who offer environmentally friendly services," says Rennick. "Printing for the government has become decentralized and every department is able to find their own printer. We are sure they will give us work."